Interchangeable illuminated sign



Feb. 10, i942. c. J. wAMsER INTERCHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN 2 Sheets-Shee'kl l Filed Nov.` 22, 1940 Flttcll-'n/Eg Y Feb. 1o, 1942.

c. J. wAMsl-:R

INTERCHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Nov. 22, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Irivlntml" E LWarnEELT El?. l f//// Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES `OFFICE IN TER'CHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN Charles J. Wamser, Milwaukee, Wis.

5 Claims.

houette letters detachably mounted in front of said panels.

The invention is designed as an improvement upon signs such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,113,285, issued April 5, 1938.

While the sign disclosed in the above patent is highly satisfactory in most respects, in actual practice it has been found that certain improvements are desirable to facilitate replacement and cleaning of the translucent panels, and also reduce cost of maintenance.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to improve signs of the foregoing type by the provision of sectional translucent panels carried by a skeleton frame detachably hinged to a housing, and having longitudinal channels secured thereto for reception of detachable silhouette letters positioned in front of translucent panels, which are also carried by the channels, the inner wall of the channels being exposed to the interior of the housing and the electric illuminating means mounted therein.

A further object resides in providing a skeleton frame with removable side channels, to allow replacement of broken or damaged panels.

A still further object is to provide a hinged frame for the sectional, translucent panels, which can be quickly removed from the housing for more convenient cleaning, and replacement of said panels.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a sign incorporating features comprising the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Application November 22, 1940, Serial No. 366,672

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, illustrating details of the panel frames and channels;

Figure 4 is a detail section, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan section, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of one of the hinged panel frames; and

Figure 7 is a rear perspective of one of the detachable letters employed.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral I designates generally a housing provided with a front depending ange 2, and terminating at its lower edge in an inwardly extended lip 3. Spaced from the top of the housing, and in substantial alinement with the lip 3, is a false top il, provided at its forward end with a depending ange 5, spaced rearwardly from the lip 3 to accommodate a skeleton frame 6, provided with translucent glass panel sections 1.

The lower portion of the housing I is provided with an inclined ledge 8, having an upturned ange 9 at its rear edge and a depending front wall I9. Obviously, the vertical flange 9 prevents the entrance of snow and water into the housing, and because of the inclination of the ledge 8, any accumulation of rain or melted snow quickly drains from the ledge to prevent formation of ice.

At spaced intervals, vertical uprights II are detachably connected to the top flange 5 and the lower flange 9, and, as best shown in Figure 5, these uprights are provided at their forward edges with channels I2 for the reception of a stationary skeleton frame 6', conforming in structure to the frame E.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the uprights I I have secured to their upper ends lugs or pintles I3, for reception of the side straps I4 of the frame 6, and in order to permit removal of the frame 6, as well as pivotal movement, the upper ends of the side straps I4 are slotted to form hooks I5, which normally straddle the pintles I3.

To retain the hinged skeleton frames and their translucent panels in operative position, the lower edges of the side straps I4 are provided with notches 25, adapted to straddle lugs 26 carried by the uprights II adjacent their lower ends.

To remove the frame 6, it is merely necessary to shift the frame upwardly and rearwardly to clear the hooks I5 from the pintles I3, and then withdraw the frame after the lower end has been swung out suiciently to clear the ledge 8. Both the upper and lower edges of the frame 6 are provided with horizontal channels I6 for reception of translucent panel sections 'I, and intermediate the upper and lower ends of the frame, spaced, horizontal, letter-receiving channels I8 are Welded, or otherwise secured to the side straps I4. The channels I8 are provided at their top and bottom walls With spaced flanges I9, which embrace the adjacent translucent panels 'I to rmly hold the same within the skeleton frame v6. Each removable frame 6 includes a pair of side straps I ll, and the straps I4 have secured thereto for movement therewith the upper and lower channels I5 and the letter-receiving channels I8.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 5, one of the side straps I4 of the skeleton frame has vertical, channel-retaining members 20, welded or otherwise permanently secured thereto, while on the opposite strap are channel plates 2I detachably connected thereto by bolts and nuts 22. Inasmuch as the channels and 2l serve to carry the translucent panels I in cooperation with the upper and lower frame channels IB, and the letter-receiving channels I8, it will be apparent that in the event of breakage, the translucent panels can be removed and replaced by detachment of the chanels 2 I.

As heretofore explained, the hinge frame can be swung outwardly or removed, as desired, thus providing access to the interior of the housing for replacement or removal of the electric illuminating means 2l. However, in practice, it has been found unnecessary to detachably hinge all of the frames, inasmuch as the hinging of every other panel section will furnish complete access to the entire interior of the housing I. Consequently, the stationary skeleton frames 6 are retained by the channels I2 secured to the forward ends of the uprights II. However, should it be desired to remove the stationary frames 6', the same is readily accomplished by detaching the uprights II from the flanges 5 and 9. Hence, it can be seen that although the stationary frame 6 is similar in construction to the removable frame 6, the frame B is rigidly carried by the uprights II and is not connected thereto by the pintles I3.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the lower wall of the channels I8 are provided at their outer edges with upturned lips 23, for reception of horizontal depending lugs 24 formed on the rear faces of detachable silhouette letters L. Removal of the letters L is accomplished by shifting the same upwardly, so that the lower lugs 24 clear the lips 23, and permits the letters i to be swung outwardly for removal from their upper retaining channels.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a comparatively simple, interchangeable illuminated sign has been devised, in which sectional, translucent panels are employed, thus materially reducing the cost of maintenance over signs utilizing one-piece translucent panels, inasmuch as the sections in the present structure can be replaced at small cost. Furthermore, the letter-receiving channels are substantially fiush with the outer faces of the translucent panels. and cleaning of the panels is, therefore, materially facilitated.

In addition to the foregoing, exposure of the letter-receiving channels I8 to the interior of the sign housing, and the electric illuminating elements contained within the housing, results in heating the channels to prevent the accumulation of ice and snow, with delayed thawing and dripping upon pedestrians Walking under the sign.

Due to the substantially flush position of the outer ends of the channel IB on the translucent panel sections 1, it will be apparent that the letters L will be positioned closely adjacent the face of the panels to afford a clear, sharp outline of the character strokes, unattainable in structures where the channels are positioned entirely in front of the translucent panels, causing a substantial spacing between the letters and panels.

Further, it will be noted that the horizontal lugs 24 are form-ed on the letters L intermediate their upper and lower strokes, and, consequently, the horizontal channels I8 extend through the strokes of the letters, thus presenting a minimum obstruction to the observers view.

Lastly, inasmuch as the channels I8 of the adjacent panels, both hinged and stationary, are alined, the silhouette letters can be easily shifted from one panel to another.

I claim:

l. In an illuminated sign including a housing having an open side and illuminating means contained therein, a skeleton frame hinged in said housing adjacent its open side, spaced horizontal compound channels carried by said frame having portions for reception of detachable silhouette letters, translucent panel sections carried by said frame and certain other portions of said compound horizontal channels, and detachable means carried by one side of said frame to retain said translucent panels in the frame and allow removal and replacement of the same.

2. In an illiuninated sign including a housing having an open side and illuminating means contained therein, spaced uprigh'ts carried by said housing adjacent its open side, a frame including a swinging skeleton frame part hinged at its upper end between said uprights, adjacent stationary skeleton frame parts rigidly connected to the opposed sides of said uprights, translucent panels carried by said swinging and stationary skeleton frame parts, and silhouette letters detachably mounted in front of said panels.

3. In an illuminated sign including a housing having an open side and illuminating means contained therein, spaced uprights carried by said housing adjacent its open side, a frame including a swinging skeleton frame part hinged adjacent its upper end between said uprights, adjacent stationary skeleton frame parts connected to the opposed sides of said uprights, spaced horizontal channels carried by the swinging skeleton frame parts, and by said stationary skeleton frame parts for reception of detachable silhouette letters, and translucent panels carried by said frame parts and horizontal channels, said horizontal channels having their rear walls exposed to the interior of said housing and their` outer ends substantially nush with said panels.

4. In an illuminated sign including a housing having an open side and illuminating means oontained therein, spaced uprights detachably connected to said housing adjacent its open side, pintles secured to the sides of said uprights adjacent their upper ends, a removable skeleton frame detachably hinged on said pintles, lugs carried by the lower ends of said uprights, the lower ends of said skeleton frame being notched to straddle said lugs, spaced compound horizontal channels carried by said frame having portions for reception of detachable silhoutte letters, and translucent panel sections carried by said frame and other portions of said horizontal channels, the inner Walls of said channels being exposed to the interiorof said housing lower ends of said skeleton frame being notched to straddle said lugs, spaced horizontal compound channels carried by said frame having' portions for reception of detachable silhouette letters, translucent panel sections carried by said frame and other portions of said horizon'tai channels,.the inner Walls of said channels being' exposed to the interior of said housing and having their outer ends substantially flush with said panels, and means detachably` connected to one side of said frame to allow removal and replacement of said panels. f

CHARLES J. WAMSER. 

